5 ms·

I bet there are more people like myself than the ones who would pay $10000 for a purse. Obviously. But are there more people 'like you', than people willing to

by dagw 2y ago

I bet there are more people like myself than the ones who would pay $10000 for a purse. Obviously. But are there more people 'like you', than people willing to pay 'too much' for something they know is irrational, just because it brings them joy. I might not want to buy that specific hand bag, but I'm not going to sit here and judge since I too have made plenty of irrational purchases in my life, many of which have brought me great fun and joy.

FpUser 2y ago
I do make plenty of irrational choices too. Same people who do not mind paying thousands for a gun laugh at me when I pay $5000 for an EUC. Hard to explain but I think it is a bit different than paying for "status symbol"
- paulcole 2y ago
  > Hard to explain but I think it is a bit different than paying for "status symbol" That is very fortunate for you because after all you’d never buy a status symbol!
  - FpUser 2y ago
    True. I can afford some but the thought to buy one just because I can had never crossed my mind.
    - paulcole 2y ago
      Unironically saying that you have no interest in status symbols and then going on to talk about a purchase of a $5,000 electric unicycle is really something. That $5,000 electric unicycle is a status symbol. You’re welcome to believe that I’m a fool and don’t know what I’m talking about. Don’t you think that’s what every Rolex wearer and Birkin carrier thinks, too? “Oh they’re just really nice ________ with features I like and can afford.”
      - FpUser 2y ago
        The only reason I've got EUC is because they're an incredible fun to ride. I've become a bit of an addict as for me it is pure mental and physical joy. I do not give a flying fuck about its status value. It is most likely big fat zero since most people have no clue about the price. Even though it was not a factor at all when buying it turns out to be very practical as it lets me run errands very fast and efficient. Nothing else beats the convenience. When I visit my current or prospective clients on a bicycle I have to leave it outside and risk it being stolen (nice bike and Toronto are very bad combo). Car - only if I want to ruin my day driving downtown. EUC comes with me into the office and 90% of the time it makes client very curious / amazed which is a good thing for conversation.
        paulcole 2y ago
        > I do not give a flying fuck about its status value. It doesn’t matter whether you care about its status value. If I bought a Birkin and said, “I don’t care about the status value” you’d scoff and think I’m a sucker. And yeah I guess I am surprised to learn that $5,000 is the cheapest available EUC.
        FpUser 2y ago
        Not the cheapest but one that has Smart BMS, IP rating, good suspension, big range and big power margin for safety. Otherwise yes, you can buy cheaper one starting I think with as low as $1000.
        paulcole 2y ago
        Oh wow, $4,000 more for the one you bought. Not everybody can afford to drop money on an item like that, especially when there are serviceable but cheaper alternatives. It's almost like you have to have a certain something to buy it...
        Clamchop 2y ago
        An Hermes Birkin bag isn't fungible with other bags of equivalent design or quality. That it is that bag by that brand is essential. Most of the price and scarcity isn't for its qualitative or quantitative attributes but rather to maintain the appearance of exclusivity. I doubt paulcole feels that way about their unicycle. Yes, fundamentally, the possession of things of value is a signal of means, but that's mundane. Everything you own or do signals means to some degree, but that's different from signaling being an essential property of those things or activities.
- rsynnott 2y ago
  > Hard to explain but I think it is a bit different than paying for "status symbol" I mean, yes, this is what all buyers of status symbols think. No-one is going out buying a Birkin bag or a Ferrari or a Rolex or a monkey NFT or whatever saying "better go buy a status symbol today". Or, at least, very few people.
- mwexler 2y ago
  EUC as in an Electric UniCycle? Just wondering; didn't know this one.
  - et-al 2y ago
    Excellent Used Condition
    - paulcole 2y ago
      But an Excellent Used Condition what?
  - FpUser 2y ago
    Yes, Electric Unicycle

by dagw 2y ago

FpUser 2y ago

I do make plenty of irrational choices too. Same people who do not mind paying thousands for a gun laugh at me when I pay $5000 for an EUC. Hard to explain but I think it is a bit different than paying for "status symbol"

paulcole 2y ago
> Hard to explain but I think it is a bit different than paying for "status symbol" That is very fortunate for you because after all you’d never buy a status symbol!
- FpUser 2y ago
  True. I can afford some but the thought to buy one just because I can had never crossed my mind.
  - paulcole 2y ago
    Unironically saying that you have no interest in status symbols and then going on to talk about a purchase of a $5,000 electric unicycle is really something. That $5,000 electric unicycle is a status symbol. You’re welcome to believe that I’m a fool and don’t know what I’m talking about. Don’t you think that’s what every Rolex wearer and Birkin carrier thinks, too? “Oh they’re just really nice ________ with features I like and can afford.”
    - FpUser 2y ago
      The only reason I've got EUC is because they're an incredible fun to ride. I've become a bit of an addict as for me it is pure mental and physical joy. I do not give a flying fuck about its status value. It is most likely big fat zero since most people have no clue about the price. Even though it was not a factor at all when buying it turns out to be very practical as it lets me run errands very fast and efficient. Nothing else beats the convenience. When I visit my current or prospective clients on a bicycle I have to leave it outside and risk it being stolen (nice bike and Toronto are very bad combo). Car - only if I want to ruin my day driving downtown. EUC comes with me into the office and 90% of the time it makes client very curious / amazed which is a good thing for conversation.
      - paulcole 2y ago
        > I do not give a flying fuck about its status value. It doesn’t matter whether you care about its status value. If I bought a Birkin and said, “I don’t care about the status value” you’d scoff and think I’m a sucker. And yeah I guess I am surprised to learn that $5,000 is the cheapest available EUC.
        FpUser 2y ago
        Not the cheapest but one that has Smart BMS, IP rating, good suspension, big range and big power margin for safety. Otherwise yes, you can buy cheaper one starting I think with as low as $1000.
        paulcole 2y ago
        Oh wow, $4,000 more for the one you bought. Not everybody can afford to drop money on an item like that, especially when there are serviceable but cheaper alternatives. It's almost like you have to have a certain something to buy it...
        Clamchop 2y ago
        An Hermes Birkin bag isn't fungible with other bags of equivalent design or quality. That it is that bag by that brand is essential. Most of the price and scarcity isn't for its qualitative or quantitative attributes but rather to maintain the appearance of exclusivity. I doubt paulcole feels that way about their unicycle. Yes, fundamentally, the possession of things of value is a signal of means, but that's mundane. Everything you own or do signals means to some degree, but that's different from signaling being an essential property of those things or activities.
rsynnott 2y ago
> Hard to explain but I think it is a bit different than paying for "status symbol" I mean, yes, this is what all buyers of status symbols think. No-one is going out buying a Birkin bag or a Ferrari or a Rolex or a monkey NFT or whatever saying "better go buy a status symbol today". Or, at least, very few people.
mwexler 2y ago
EUC as in an Electric UniCycle? Just wondering; didn't know this one.
- et-al 2y ago
  Excellent Used Condition
  - paulcole 2y ago
    But an Excellent Used Condition what?
- FpUser 2y ago
  Yes, Electric Unicycle